Cowboys Moves Mean NFL's Best Offseason? 'Position to Contend Now'

The Dallas Cowboys traded for veteran presences in cornerback Stephon Gilmore and receiver Brandin Cooks this offseason.

As an NFL front office, landing a talented player for a small price tag has to be one of the sweetest feelings. 

But what's better than adding one Pro Bowl player for a late-round draft pick? Trading for a consistent 1,000+ yard receiver five days later. And that's exactly how the Dallas Cowboys landed two of their biggest offseason moves in receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore. 

There's an argument to be made that Dallas could have the best offseason in the NFL. In fact, we at CowboysSI.com have made that very argument, especially when the cap and the draft are part of the conversation. However, CBS Sports recently slotted them at No. 2 behind the Miami Dolphins. ... and we won't nitpick our way to an argument.

"Both are already making an impact on their new Cowboys teammates in their roles as the team's No. 2 receiver and No. 2 cornerback, arguably their two biggest positions of need on both sides of the ball entering the offseason," CBS Sports writes of Cooks and Gilmore. "These moves were made on top of retaining just about all of their key defensive players from a unit that allowed the fifth-fewest points (20.1 points per game) in the NFL in 2022.

"Then, Dallas had a safe, down the fairway 2023 NFL Draft by filling in remaining needs at defensive tackle, tight end, linebacker, defensive end and running back."

On top of adding Gilmore and Cooks, Dallas also re-signed key defensive players such as Johnathan Hankins, Donovan Wilson and Leighton Vander Esch, while drafting Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the first round of the NFL Draft. 

"Dallas enters 2023 with a much-improved roster in comparison to last year's squad despite not spending much money or draft resources to do so," CBS Sports writes. "The Cowboys are in a great position to contend now while also smartly managing their salary cap."

Now with this much-improved roster, Dallas hopes it can translate to its first NFC Championship appearance since 1996. 

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You can find Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard

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